Native USB Wiring

The S2’s main attraction is native USB on GPIO19 and GPIO20. Boards like the S2 Mini connect the USB-C port straight to it, which is what you want for CircuitPython, USB HID and TinyUSB. Boards with a separate USB-UART chip are easier to recover but need a second port for native USB.

PSRAM

320 KB of SRAM is tight for CircuitPython and TLS. The ESP32-S2FN4R2 (S2 Mini) and WROVER modules include 2 MB of PSRAM, which makes a noticeable difference. WROOM modules without PSRAM suit simpler C or Arduino firmware.

No Bluetooth

Every ESP32-S2 is Wi-Fi only (2.4 GHz). That’s fine for MQTT sensors, web servers and USB-to-Wi-Fi bridges, but if you might ever need BLE provisioning, beacons or a phone app over Bluetooth, buy an ESP32-S3 or C3 instead.

Security Features

The S2 added Secure Boot with RSA signatures, AES-XTS flash and PSRAM encryption, and a hardware digital-signature peripheral. If you’re prototyping a product with secure cloud credentials, these features are a real advantage over the original ESP32.

Form Factor

The S2 Mini shares the D1 Mini footprint, so many D1 Mini shields fit. Saola and DevKitC boards follow Espressif’s breadboard layouts and match the official documentation pin for pin.

With more than 1,700 ratings (about 4.5 stars), the official Flipper Zero Wi-Fi Developer Board is by far the most popular ESP32-S2 product on Amazon. It’s built on the ESP32-S2-WROVER and plugs onto the Flipper Zero’s GPIO header. Out of the box it’s a wireless debugger: flash and debug the Flipper, or other microcontrollers, over Wi-Fi or USB-C, with breakpoints and variable inspection. It can run as its own access point or join your network, and has a built-in web interface. Because it’s an ordinary ESP32-S2 underneath, the community also runs alternative firmware on it. If you own a Flipper Zero, this is the S2 board to get; if you don’t, it’s not the right general-purpose board.

SparkFun’s Thing Plus ESP32-S2 WROOM is the most polished brand-name S2 board still available on Amazon (about 4.2 stars from 23 ratings). It uses the ESP32-S2-WROOM module with 4 MB of flash and highlights the S2’s security features: Secure Boot with RSA-PSS signed firmware, transparent AES-XTS encryption of external flash and RAM, and hardware cryptographic accelerators for AES, SHA, RSA and ECC. Built in SparkFun’s Feather-sized Thing Plus format, it’s a good fit for IoT prototypes that store cloud credentials and need to be locked down. The WROOM module has no PSRAM, so keep firmware lean, and stock was down to 4.

The Saola-1 was Espressif’s original small development board for the S2, and the Saola-1R version uses the ESP32-S2-WROVER with 4 MB of flash and 2 MB of PSRAM. Most I/O pins are broken out on both sides, so it sits neatly on a breadboard, and because it’s an Espressif design, ESP-IDF examples and pin maps apply directly. This listing from DIYmall has about 4.3 stars from 12 ratings, with 5 left when we checked. It uses a USB-UART bridge for programming, so native USB needs a separate connection to GPIO19 and GPIO20.

If ten boards is more than you need, HiLetgo’s 3-pack of S2 Minis is the most-reviewed ESP32-S2 listing for general use (114 ratings, about 3.9 stars). It’s the same ESP32-S2FN4R2 design with 4 MB flash, 2 MB PSRAM and native USB on USB-C, from a seller many makers already buy from. The middling rating mostly reflects the S2 Mini’s quirks (entering download mode manually, and USB re-enumerating after a reset) rather than dead boards, so read our FAQ below on boot mode before you start. Stock was healthy when we checked.

Alinan’s 6-pack stands out for one practical reason: the listing says the boards ship with MicroPython as the default firmware, so you can plug one in, open Thonny and start typing Python without flashing anything. The hardware is the standard S2 Mini: ESP32-S2FN4R2 with 4 MB flash and 2 MB PSRAM, 27 GPIOs with interrupt and PWM support, plus ADC, DAC, I2C, SPI, UART and USB OTG. Six boards is a comfortable number for a small class or a household of sensors. It has about 4.1 stars from 24 ratings.

For a lab or classroom that wants full-size, breadboard-friendly S2 boards rather than the tiny S2 Mini, this 5-pack of ESP32-S2-WROOM DevKit boards with USB-C is one of the few multi-pack options left. DevKit-style boards are easier for beginners to wire up, and five boards cover a small group. Be aware that the listing is very sparse: it doesn’t state flash size or whether a USB-UART chip is fitted, and it has no reviews yet. Treat it as a budget classroom option and test each board on arrival; if documentation matters, the Saola-1R or S2 Mini packs above are safer bets.

USB devices or CircuitPython?

The S2 Mini 10-pack, with native USB on the USB-C port.

Want official hardware?

The Espressif DevKitC-1U-N8R2; add a 2.4 GHz U.FL antenna.

Own a Flipper Zero?

The official Flipper Zero Wi-Fi Dev Board.

Secure IoT prototype?

The SparkFun Thing Plus ESP32-S2 with Secure Boot and encryption.

Learning MicroPython?

The Alinan 6-pack ships with MicroPython preloaded.

Need Bluetooth or more power?

Skip the S2 and see our ESP32-S3 buying guide.

Does the ESP32-S2 have Bluetooth?

No. The ESP32-S2 has 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi only, with no Bluetooth Classic or Bluetooth LE. If you need Bluetooth, choose the ESP32-S3 (Wi-Fi + BLE 5, native USB), the ESP32-C3, or the ESP32-C6.

How do I put an S2 Mini into upload mode?

Because the S2 Mini uses native USB rather than a USB-UART chip, a crashed sketch can stop the USB port from appearing. Hold the 0 (boot) button, press and release RST, then release 0. A new COM port appears and you can upload. After uploading, press RST once to run your code.

ESP32-S2 or ESP32-S3: which should I buy?

For almost all new projects, the ESP32-S3. It keeps native USB and adds Bluetooth LE, a second core, more memory options and AI acceleration, often at a similar price. The S2 still makes sense for the cheapest native-USB Wi-Fi boards, the Flipper Zero Wi-Fi board, and projects already written for it.

Is the ESP32-S2 good for CircuitPython?

Yes. Native USB lets the board appear as a USB drive for drag-and-drop code, which is exactly how CircuitPython works, and the S2 was one of its earliest ESP32 targets. Pick a board with 2 MB of PSRAM, such as the S2 Mini or a WROVER board, for the most headroom.

Can I use ESP-IDF with the ESP32-S2?

Yes. The ESP32-S2 is fully supported in ESP-IDF, and most of our tutorials apply with only pin changes, except the Bluetooth ones. Start with our ESP-IDF installation guide and the getting started tutorial.